Q: How does the Efficient Data Storage online backup service work?

A. After you sign up for the Efficient Data Storage remote data backup service on our website ( http://www.abetterbackup.com ), you will download and install the Efficient Data Storage client onto your computer. Once the Efficient Data Storage client is installed, it will always remain in your system background. At the end of the installation process you will be prompted to created your encryption keys and print a hard copy.

Store these keys and print out in safe place. You will need these keys in the event you need to reinstall the client application. Without these keys you will not have access to your stored data files.

You will create backup sets that contain information on the files or folders that you want to backup and the days and times that you want to back them up. Backups will then occur automatically. When a backup begins, the Efficient Data Storage client will search all of the folders and files that are contained in your backup set. All new files and all files that have changed since the last backup, will be compressed, encrypted and then sent to the servers at the EDS data center.

Restoring files is just as easy. Opening the backup client and select which files you want to restore. If you have a system failure, you will have the ability to reinstall the backup client and then restore all of your files.

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Q: How do I know if my backups are working?

A. You will receive 1 of 3 backup notification e-mails.

1.An e-mail when you backup is successfully transmitted and received on the EDS remote data servers.

2. If there are any exceptions during the backup you will receive and exception e-mail notification with a log of errors.

3. If for some reason you backup does not contact the EDS remote backup servers you will receive a backup failure e-mail notification.

A copy of the backup log is attached to the e-mail. The log file will show what files were selected for backup, if any errors occurred and what caused the errors.

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Q: How do I select which files to backup?

A. The Efficient Data Storage client software gives you two methods of choosing files to backup. You can manually select files and folders to backup or you can enable the auto select option.

The auto on gives you the ability to backup files by type (i.e. Microsoft Word documents).This feature will scan the entire computer and mark all files with the criteria for backup.

In addition, Efficient Data Storage allows you to have an unlimited number of backup sets. You can, for example create backup sets to backup your Microsoft Exchange database once a week and all of your Microsoft Word documents daily during the night.

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Q: Can my data get a virus while it is backed up and stored on your remote backup servers?

A. No.

Viruses cannot spread to files that are backed up and stored on the EDS remote backup servers. If one of your files contains a virus and that file is backed up, the virus will be contained to that one file.

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Q: Will Efficient Data Storage remote data backup service work with a dial-up Internet connection?

A. Yes.

Efficient Data Storage will work with a dial-up Internet connection, though backups will be slower than with a broadband connection.

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Q: What operating systems will Efficient Data Storage work with?

A. Efficient Data Storage will work on the following operating systems: Windows 98, ME, NT 4.0, 2000 Pro, 2000 Server, all versions of XP, all versions of Vista, 2003 Server and 2003 Small Business Server.

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Q: Will Efficient Data Storage work on a Mac or Linux based computer?

A. No.

Unfortunately, Efficient Data Storage is currently not designed to work on a Mac or Linux based computer.

However, you can backup files that are contained on a Mac or a computer running Linux if the hard drives on those computers are mapped to a Windows based computer.

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Q: Is the amount of storage space that I use calculated on a compressed or uncompressed basis?

A. The amount of storage space is calculated on a compressed basis. The storage space you are using is calculated on the amount of data that is actually stored on the EDS remote data servers.

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Q: What are the steps to install the Efficient Data Storage software?

A. After you download the Efficient Data Storage software, the installation process will begin. Fill out the forms in the installation process and it will automatically create an account on the remote data server. the next step will be to set up your unique encryption key. The Efficient Data Storage software will now be ready to use. Once the configuration is done, the Efficient Data Storage software will give you the options of saving a digital copy of your encryption keys and prompt you to print a copy of the encryption key.

STORE THESE KEYS IN A SAFE LOCATION.

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Q: Will Efficient Data Storage work if I have a firewall?

A. Yes.

If you have a physical firewall (a hardware device), you should not have to make any changes to your firewall configurations in order for Efficient Data Storage to work properly. If you have personal firewall software, such as Norton Internet Security, Norton Personal Firewall, Blackice, ZoneAlarm, NetNanny, etc., you will need to configure the personal firewall settings to open port 2773. Please contact Efficient Data Storage for more instructions.

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